My Year

Wow, it's that time of year again... time for me to write a long post about my year and what I've been up too.  Can't imagine why anyone would want to read it, but hey - it'll keep the stalkers happy.
(Joking)

So... where to begin...

January
The highlight of January was definitly being able to go on the March for Life.  It was so wild, how I was even able to go.  I literally asked to go, received permission and got signed up with a group the weekend before!
It was so awesome... the ride there, all the cool people I met, the March itself was beautiful, getting to see all the monuments afterwords!  It was so beautiful.  Hopefully, my sisters and I will be able to go again this year.

February
Hmm, well, I didn't do much in February, other than practice for the Seven Last Words performance.  Boring me.

March
In March I left sweet 16 behind and turned 17!  It's been awful!  Gah!  This whole year past, at least up until the last month, I kept thinking that I was still 16 and not 17.  I never forget what age I am, but for what ever reason I stayed mentally 16 for so long it was annoying.  "So you're saying sixteen isn't an age, it's a state of mind?"  Fish was right.
But my birthday was lots of fun.  We had a performance for the Seven Last Words the day before my birthday, and afterwords my friends Jo and Cordellia and I skipped up and down the hall singing "Sixteen going on Seventeen" as loud as we possibly could.  Then on my birthday, friends of mine came over for the day and the most dramatic event of the year happened... my four year old brother proposed to my fifteen year old friend!  He's been desperately in love with her ever since, sends her e-mails and we hear of little else.
Let's see, also in March I registered my domain name for my website http://www.modesty-mall.com/.

April
Good heavens, I didn't do anything in April either?  Shame on me.  =P

May
I got my website homepage up this month!   Yay!  And I have since gotten five other pages up. Hopefully a sixth, seventh and eighth should be up very soon.
Also, I took the SAT and got  a 1930, I think.  I think.  It actually might have been a 1928?  *shrughs* Oh well, I got a fairly decent score.

June
June saw the confirmation of my next two younger sisters, Kathleen and Yaviel.  It was a traditional confirmation, in Latin, which was really neat!
The last weekend in June my family took a vacation too The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, AL.  It was so wonderful!  My friend Jo and her family were down there at the same time as us, but they didn't know we were coming down, so we gave them what was hopefully a lovely surprise!  My grandparents came down with us too, and we took a trip to EWTN and sat in on a show where Yaviel almost got to ask a question, but they ran out of time.
We came home from Sweet Home Alabama just in time for...


July
The Ave Cor Mariae Summer Girls Camp!   This was my sixth year going, and it was just grand - as always. I got to see my loverly sister Vicki and niece Hannah... it was so much fun to have Hannah calling me "Auntie Rose" all week and seeing the puzzled looks on all the non-forum girls faces (that was just about everyone else.)  And I got to see fireworks this year!  The past two years it hasn't worked out on the 4th of July, so I've been deprived of fireworks for two whole years!  But I got to see them this year, and they were very nice.
When I came home, Vicki, Hannah and I did our second annual Pirates of the Caribbean Blog Week, funness all around!

August
 I died.  Yup, you read that right.  I died.  Or more correctly, Rose Pevensie died.  (My character on the forum.) It was sooooo much fun, and so dramatic too!  It almost made me feel better for not being able to go to the Fairy Tale Novels Fan Get-Together (AKA ReginaCon. ;) )  Ooh!  That reminds me!  I got to talk to my daughter Grace and brother Paul and my sister Elena said hi.  =)  Next year I'm going and meeting them.  (Which means they must be there, hint, hint.)
Let's see, what else did I do?  Ah, I went up and visited Hannah and Vicki and I got a cold that lasted until October!

September
Ah, September.  =)  I started school and became a Senior, I volunteered at our local county fair - which was fun, since I didn't enter projects - and went to my first dance.  Ah, it was lovely.  I wore the skirt that I made and danced to all of the dances!
September also featured Lord of the Rings Blog Week and the first issue of The Fairy Tale Novels Forum's newspaper, Ink and Fairydust.

October
The second issue of Ink and Fairydust came out, with an article by yours truly on the front page.  =)  I took the ACT (and got a 30).  And... that's it.

November
The third issue of Ink and Fairydust came out, this time with a new format and once again with something from me featured on the front.
Now, many of you may know that November is NaNoWriMo, but I decided that for me it would be PePoWriMo - at least this month.  PePoWriMo stands for Personal Poetry Writing Month, and I wrote a poem every day for the whole month.  I'm working on converting the document into a PDF so I can upload them for y'all to read.
A Rose in Bloom also celebrated it's two year anniversary!

December
For December I did BloPoWriMo, and managed to get a post in every day except for three days.  I'm happy to say that I only missed those three days due to necessity, and not because I couldn't think of anything to post.  =)
In my personal life, I changed locations and got accepted into college with the top scholarships.  So I know where I'm headed next fall.

So that is a review of the past year in my life.  Not quite as exciting as last year - either that or I just slacked off on the writing skills today.

I hope you all had a blessed and joyful 2009, and that you will have an even more blessed and joyful 2010

Happy New Year!

Very cool video!

My Christmas

So this post shall jump around a lot because Blogger is absolutely evil when it comes to photographs... to put it mildly.  Anyhow...

These are both from the day after Christmas!  (New blouse!!!!)  My sisters and I went insane... we were walking around outside, it was snowing beautifully, I happened to look over at our pine tree and gasped "IT'S NARNIA!"  We then also recalled that we have a lampost.  So what did we do?  We ran back inside and changed into semi-period outfits (or as close as we could get) and ran back outside without coats to take photos!  My hands were soooooo cold...

Yay! Our light-up houses.  We have little people for them now, which you can semi-see standing on the train station.

My Christmas outfit, or the back of it, anyhow.  The front view wouldn't upload, but I suppose that's fine.  Now you can all just admire my lovely hair-do.

*sings* Oh Christmas Tree, oh Christmas Tree!

My presents. =)  Well, minus the clothes (which you'll probably see at some point) and *gasp* I didn't take a picture of my piano music!  How could I?  Deary me...
I got the piano music for Josh Groban's CDs - "Awake" and "Closer"!!!! I was soooo happy.  They are the best!  Maybe when I get good enough I'll record one or two and post them on here for you to listen to.

And that's it for now!  I may have more photos for you later, or I may not.  You'll have to wait and see!

Legend of the Snowflake

By Rose Marchen

From Heaven God came, the world to save

From far up above out of our sight

So we recall, a snowflake He made

Glittering form with crystal inlaid

Softly falling to earth in the night

From Heaven God came, the world to save

He was in a humble form arrayed

So small Our Lord, no power or might

So we recall, a snowflake He made

With simplicity He is portrayed

Yet close look detailed beauty highlight

From Heaven God came, the world to save

From heaven it comes, is not manmade

He is of this world and yet not quite

So we recall, a snowflake He made

For a short while with us He stayed

Before rising back to heavens bright

From Heaven God came, the world to save

So we recall, the snowflake He made.

Merry Christmas!

Yay!  It's Christmas!  Yahoo!!!! Day number Two! 

Christmas was wonderful this year.  =)  No snow Christmas morning, but there is a TON outside right now and it's still snowing!  It's soooo pretty outside.

And that's all for right now.  You'll get a better post later.  =)

Merry Christmas!

A Christmas Praise

By Rose Marchen

Tell all the world

Our Savior is born

Sing out the news

It's Christmas morn

Play on your harps

Blow on your horn

Tell all the World

Our Savior is born!

Give Glory to God

He is the King

Give praise in your stories

With loud voices sing

He will save the world

Peace does He bring

Give Glory to God

He is the King!

Hark, angels sing

Salvation is nigh

There is joy in the air

It lights up the sky

There's joy in the streets

Rejoicing on high

Hark, angels sing

Salvation is nigh!

To Him be honor

To Him be praise

He sleeps soft now

In Mother's loving gaze

Great will be done

In fufilment of days

To Him be honor

To Him be praise

Tell all the world

God's Son is born

Sing out the news

It's Christmas morn

Play on your harps

Blow on your horn

Tell all the World

Our Savior is born!

'Tis Christmas Eve!

Midnight Mass

by Rose Marchen

‘Tis the stroke of midnight, Christmas morn

Bells ring, Mass is begun

Know all ye lands that God’s Son is born

People all sing, the notes are airborne

Kyrie Eleison

‘Tis the stroke of midnight, Christmas morn

Cloths and candles the altar adorn

The priest prays with deacon

Know all ye lands that God’s Son is born

We remember Christ, tiny newborn

Come to save His children

‘Tis the stroke of midnight, Christmas morn

Praying, expressing feelings inborn

Awe for what God has done

Know all ye lands God’s Son is born

Sing Alleluia for Christ our dear Lord

Incense floats, bells are rung

‘Tis the stroke of midnight, Christmas morn

Know all ye lands that God’s Son is born.

One More Sleep 'Till Christmas! (Eve, anyhow.)

Scenes of Christmas

These are a Few of My Favorite Things...

I love gifts.  Getting them, making them, giving them... I love everything about gifts.  Gift giving is my love language, it's how I show love and it's the best way for others to make me feel loved.

I think that that's one of the reason's why I love Christmas so much, because of the gifts.  I don't think I'll ever lose the excited anticipation I have for tearing open wrapping paper to see what I've received that year.  I know I'll never lose the joy that comes from watching others open up the gifts that I've given them.

Of course, the present I am most excited for is the gift that I am given every year... Christ the Lord.  I can only imagine how much joy it gives God to give us the gift of His Son, and how much more joy we give to Him when we receive His present joyfully and gratefully.  I know it disappoints me when people aren't quite as excited about the gifts I've carefully picked and wrapped for them as I had hoped.  So this year, let's all try that much harder to receive God's gift of love to us with joy and happiness, and thank Him with all our hearts.

The Fourth Week of Advent

Tomorrow I Will Come

Part 4

We hear tell of the Lord's coming
The news is in the songs we sing
Listen to what the prophets say
They fortell the hour, tell the day.
The advent of the Lord is near.

He comes as a baby crying.
God With Us, a mighty being.
O Emmanuel, save me I pray.
The Lord is near.

He is in a manger lying.
Gently is His mother smiling.
Angels sing out “Be not afraid.”
The watching shepherds are amazed.
Three kings in awe worshiping.
The Lord is here.

Teen Girl Daybook

Date... Saturday, December 19, 2009

Starting time... 11:19 AM

Mood... cheerful

Outside my window... SNOW!!!  It looks like me bloggy

I'm thinking... about visiting the nursing home today

I'm reading... The Temperment God Gave You, awesome book, btw!

I'm listening to... a lovely Christmas CD

I'm wearing... a red shirt and blue skirt

Yesterday, I... went to the Miles Christi Night of Recollection

I'm excited for... Christmas!

I'm sad because... I'm not sad.  Er, no.. that doesn't sound right.  I'm not sad at all, but I'm not sad because I'm not sad.

I'm hungry for... nothing, I haven't been hungry for a week (literally)

The song stuck inside my head is... All I Want for Christmas is You

I want... to have a tea party

I love... Ringwraiths and virtually adopted sisters

I loathe... sore muscles

This week, my goal is... get back into the habit of reading my Bible everyday

Did I meet last week's goal?... Yes, only 1 1/2 more to do!

Ending time... 11:37 AM

Christmas Tags!

I got these from Olive Tree, and hereby tag anyone who want's to do them.  Actually, I just decided that I'm going to save the other one for after Christmas, so if you want to do it then go ahead!

What is your favorite Christmas carol?

Carol of the Bells and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Do you have an artificial tree or do you get a real one?

Artificial.  We got a real one once, but us kids missed setting up the fake tree, so we went back to that.

Where you live do you get snowy Christmas's?

Not every year, alas.  Last year was though! 

What is your favorite Christmas tradition?

Decorating the house and buying Christmas gifts for one of my siblings

What is your favorite holiday? Why?

Christmas, and then Easter because they celebrate Christs' birth and resurrection

Do you go caroling?

We go every year with the KofC's to a nursing home, we don't really carol, but we do hand out little gifts and sing a song or two. 

What is your favorite Christmas movie?

Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer, the 1964 one.

Do you like listening to Christmas music?

Oh yes!

Do you believe in Santa Claus?

*cough* No.

What is your favorite Christmas meal?

Breakfast on Christmas morning.  We always have cinnamon monkey bread, it's soooo good!

Do you write people Christmas cards?

Yes I do!

Do you have a manger scene?

But of course!  We have the lovely breakable one in the piano room, and then I have a Playmobiel set that I put in my room

Will you wish anyone Merry Christmas?

I most certainly will! 

Liked the tag?

Sure, it was fun!

Your turn!

Switching Gears From Yesterday...

I saw this story on the Pro-Life Action League website, and had to share it with you. I can't believe a policeman would do something like this! I'll let you read it...

Wednesday, December 16, pro-lifer Rachelle Crile went to the Planned Parenthood facility in Aurora, Illinois at 8 a.m. to sidewalk counsel as she has done on regular basis since attending a Pro-Life Action League sidewalk counseling seminar in September. After about 45 minutes in temperatures below 20 degrees, Rachelle went to her car in an adjacent parking lot to warm up before returning to the her sidewalk counseling post.

As Rachelle sat in her car, a couple in a white SUV pulled into the lot a couple rows behind her. Rachelle had a feeling the people might be headed to Planned Parenthood. Since Wednesday mornings are a prime time abortions there, Rachelle knew a life could be on the line, so she said a prayer, grabbed her literature and approached the car.

Offer of Help Met With Threat of Violence

Rachelle was approaching the car when the driver, a middle-aged man, waved a silver handgun at Rachelle from inside the car. Terrified, Rachelle put up her hands and went back to her car. A little bit later, the SUV pulled into Planned Parenthood's parking lot and the man and a woman got out of the car and entered the facility.

Read the rest at Pro-Life Action Leauge

Oh dear...

I am just set on ruining LOTR, aren't I? *shakes head* Well, Earwen inspired me, so blame her! ;)

But you'll be laughing way to hard to blame anyone, so never mind.

Ahem!

An all new Christmas concert staring....

Gollum!

Soyousay!

The Witch King of Angmar!

Saruman!

and a special surprise guest star!

In a disco Christmas dance!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Classic style....

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

If You Don't Want the Lord of the Rings to be Ruined Forever, Don't Read Past This Point.

When Tolkien created the Ringwraiths, I don't think he expected that one day there would be Ringwraith fangirls. But there are! I mean honestly, wraiths are so awesome!

I suppose that it is all my friend Lanta's fault... after all, she's the one who started it by falling in love with and marrying the Witch King of Angmar. Then again... I had created this awesome, adorable and sarcastic Ringwraith named Soyousay before then. So we get equal blame. ;)

Well our love of Ringwraiths has reached new proportions. I am quite positive that Tolkien turned over in his grave last night during a certain conversation I had with Lanta. We had gotten the idea to name all the wraiths before, but last night we actually did it.

Now, we decided that the wraiths have two names, their evily cool elvish-y names and their code names. How are these code names determined? By their most common phrase that they say! (Like Soyousay quite regularly responds with "So YOU say!")

Oh, you also need to know that The Witch King is actually two people, Cor (Lanta's husband) and Cor's evil twin brother. So there are actually ten Ringwraiths because Sauron told them to share the ring. (That's a really long story. I'll tell it some other time.)

Anyhow, so between Lanta and myself, and myself and my sisters, all ten Nazgul now have code names! They are pretty indicative of their personalities. It's hilarious

Shutup = Cor's evil brother
Whatnow = Cor
Soyousay = my wraith and BF
Sowhat = Soyousay's younger brother
Yeahright = Sowhat and Soyousay's uncle
Whatever = random wraith at this point
Whocares = ditto
Ofcoursenot = ditto
Offine = ditto
Tim = the spoiled ten yr. old brat

Yes, you read that right, Tim (actually, he would say "It's 'im!" but everyone always thought he was saying "Tim".)

Anyhow, after Sauron gave out the first 8 rings, he was looking around for the last king to give the ring to. He went all over the place, but no one would take it! No one! Finally Sauron stumbled across this little kingdom, ruled by this bratty ten year old king. Why Sauron didn't give the ring to the regent, I have no idea, but he was fed up with searching and gave it to Tim, who took it gladly.

Note: The reason you don't see any short Ringwraith's in the movies is because the rest all forced Tim to wear these stilts, since a short wraith is hardly terrifying.


And there you have it. I intend to write a story about how they all became wraiths at some point. It shall be quite fun! The Tolkien purists will all kill me.

But who cares?

Scenes of Winter